Traditional MLB Power Rankings to check in on teams like the Houston Astros who have come alive again and clubs such as the San Diego Padres who need an amen.
Expanded playoffs, a small sample size, and plenty of other factors have kept most of the Major League Baseball teams alive for now. With Memorial Day now a week away, we're approaching the unofficial first checkpoint of the season. Teams who see themselves ranked low on this week's MLB Power Rankings might want to reassess themselves before we're into July and all hope is lost.
This year has included plenty of early surprises both positively and negatively. Some of those early slumpers have awoken and are now very much in the mix.
This week's MLB Power Rankings will stay traditional and look at where each team currently is and where they're headed next.
30) MLB Power Rankings: Oakland Athletics
Pin the Oakland Athletics down to the number 30 spot. It didn't help that they just wrapped up a series against the Houston Astros this weekend. The Athletics are well on their way to losing 100 games. Losing 110 isn't out of the question either. Maybe Las Vegas needs to reconsider. Is it really a major league baseball team in your city if the team is the Athletics?
29) MLB Power Rankings: Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are lucky they have the Oakland Athletics around. Almost as miserable but nowhere close at the same time because at least their pitching staff hasn't already allowed over 300 runs this season, it's not as if there has been much for Royals fans to celebrate. This year isn't even the tail end of some successful seasons or the first of a major rebuild. The Royals are bad and they look like they'll stay that way for a while.
28) MLB Power Rankings: Chicago White Sox
As dysfunctional as the Chicago White Sox can be, a spot this low in the MLB Power Rankings isn't what too many expected even in a worst-case scenario. They've been beyond bad. Even some of their better trade candidates don't look so appealing. It seems like their window to win has already closed on them and caught their fingers. They got to play the Kansas City Royals as a brief respite this past weekend. Take a victory lap now. There may not be too many more.
27) MLB Power Rankings: Colorado Rockies
On one hand, it hasn't been as horrific for the Colorado Rockies as some expected. On the other, being one of the worst teams in the National League is no consolation prize. Catcher Elias Diaz somehow being in the mix for a batting title is one of the more unique and interesting stories with this ball club. Headed toward a rebuild or retool or however their front office will label it, Rockies fans can take joy in knowing the Colorado Avalanche just won a Stanley Cup and the Denver Nuggets may add an NBA Title in a couple of weeks.
26) MLB Power Rankings: Cincinnati Reds
If the Colorado Rockies aren't the National League's worst ball club, the Cincinnati Reds could be it. Spots 27, 26, and 25 on this list could be interchangeable. All three ball clubs are neck-and-neck with each other in the cellar. For the Reds, they deserve to fall back from 25 because of the division they play in. The worst in an already weak group of five ball clubs, their big concern right now needs to be how poorly their young arms have performed lately. A season that started off with some promise has quickly become a headache.
25) MLB Power Rankings: Washington Nationals
Put the Washington Nationals at 27 if you must. You can also put them at 26 on your list if you choose. They earn the number 25 spot here simply because of how much worse they should've been. Although they remain a mostly fractured franchise, there are some players to watch. Josiah Gray and MacKenzie Gore remain the most intriguing pitchers. How CJ Abrams, Keibert Ruiz, and anyone else acquired via major trade perform have also grabbed our attention. It's easy to say the Nationals have outperformed expectations this year. They'll fall back to earth eventually. Let's tip our caps one last time before they do.
24) MLB Power Rankings: Detroit Tigers
Not only are the Detroit Tigers surprisingly close to .500, they're actually not all that far from catching the Minnesota Twins. It's not for real, though. They still have one of the game's worst starting lineups. The pitching staff, outside of Eduardo Rodriguez, isn't anything special either. Don't let the Tigers fool you into thinking they'll make some sort of magical run. They are a work in progress.
23) MLB Power Rankings: San Diego Padres
Woof! The San Diego Padres are playing the worst baseball in the league. This super team must have stepped on some Kryptonite because they absolutely stink. The pitching is very "meh" and the hitting is sinful. All of that money spent this offseason and in trades for star players may go to waste. The Padres need some sort of Hail Mary. At the rate they're going, a huge shake-up could be on the way. A win on Sunday against the Boston Red Sox will only temporarily fix what ails this ball club.
22) MLB Power Rankings: Cleveland Guardians
This isn't the same Cleveland Guardians team we saw take the New York Yankees to the brink of elimination in last year's playoffs. The offense is weak and the pitching is nothing special. This division was theirs to win. Somewhere along the lines they decided playing baseball in October wasn't for them. The division lead may be within their reach and yet it feels so far. They lost all three games to the New York Mets this weekend and now have an identical record with their 2016 World Series buddies.
21) MLB Power Rankings: Chicago Cubs
The +21 run differential for the Chicago Cubs is beginning to decline. They hammered the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday then had the same done to them on Saturday before losing on Sunday. Their hot start seems to be a thing of the past. The Cubs were always meant to be an average ball club. At 20-26, they'd happily swap it for 23-23.
20) MLB Power Rankings: San Francisco Giants
Don't celebrate too early, San Francisco Giants. You just beat the Miami Marlins who are only better than you in the standings. At the moment, the Giants are better and more powerful than the San Diego Padres. So are a bunch of other ball clubs. All season long the question will be whether or not they were right to pass on Carlos Correa. We get some answers this week with a couple of games against the Minnesota Twins.
19) MLB Power Rankings: St. Louis Cardinals
Wait, so the St. Louis Cardinals have a pulse after all? That's right. Those National League Central ball clubs who believed they could get away without the Cardinals messing with their mojo were wrong. The Cardinals have a long way to go before we can be assured they're officially back. Out of last place and getting closer to first, being the only team in the division with a winning record over the last 10 games has served as a reminder of how good they can be.
18) MLB Power Rankings: Philadelphia Phillies
This year's Philadelphia Phillies are the definition of streaky. They'll drop a couple in a row and then win just as many. Presently sitting at 22-24, they're well behind the Atlanta Braves yet also right there with the rest of the jam-packed division. A turnaround by the starting pitching will be essential for them to remain relevant. Kyle Schwarber has a habit of getting hot around the start of summer. Be warned.
17) MLB Power Rankings: Seattle Mariners
Fourth place in the American League West, the Seattle Mariners are one of the few teams with a below .500 record and a positive run differential. Most of the credit goes to the pitching staff. Their offense is nothing outrageously amazing. This early hole they're in could be more troublesome because of how deep the division has become. Only the Oakland Athletics are playing the role of doormat. The more balanced MLB schedule could make the Mariners one of those teams with an impressive record and schedule ending after 162 games.
16) MLB Power Rankings: Miami Marlins
The Miami Marlins have been punching above their weight class for a while. At 24-23, they've been some of baseball's biggest overachievers. The pathetic -54 run differential tells us the full picture of what's going on. Their early luck will eventually run out on them. Their National League-worst 164 runs scored is not nearly good enough to keep them in the playoff picture.
15) MLB Power Rankings: Los Angeles Angels
The definition of a .500 baseball. The Los Angeles Angels have the capacity to win 90 games and settle for around 70. They're two games over the .500 mark today and in the middle of the MLB Power Rankings. Likely to settle for a wild card spot at best, there's no rest for this ball club in 2023. Their division is a whole lot tougher and if they want to give Shohei Ohtani even an ounce of doubt about leaving, they'll need to get him to the playoffs.
14) MLB Power Rankings: New York Mets
This has been a strange month for the New York Mets. They lost the games they should've won. They won the ones they could've lost. Some different bats and improvements from the starting pitchers are the reason for this. If Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander can be the studs they're paying them to be, we may want to all scrub any of those negative Mets takes from a few weeks ago.
13) MLB Power Rankings: Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers starting rotation hasn't been good enough to win the division and their offense has been mediocre enough to keep them in the running for first place in a tight division. A weekend series against the Tampa Bay Rays who lost two straight to the New York Mets forced Milwaukee to play a team with vengeance on their minds. The Brewers have yet to truly define what their season will look like. With the St. Louis Cardinals playing some better baseball of late, they'll need to choose to start winning.
12) MLB Power Rankings: Pittsburgh Pirates
How the mighty have fallen, or have they? The waters have gotten cold for the Pittsburgh Pirates this month and yet they are very much alive in the National League Central race. They can thank a division of other teams that seem disinterested in making it to the postseason. You're correct in having your doubts about this ball club. On a positive note, Mitch Keller has arrived and the bullpen is one of the best in the game. The lineup could use more punch and the rotation would benefit from an upgrade.
11) MLB Power Rankings: Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are playing like they believe in themselves. Even if the starting rotation is two pitchers deep, they hold onto the second-place spot in the National League West. If we're being honest, they're not quite ready to win a championship. Earning a wild card spot, however, could be good for them. It's a year of obvious progress out of this ball club.
10) MLB Power Rankings: Boston Red Sox
Are the Boston Red Sox really a top ten team in baseball? Their record says they could be. All bat and no arm, the Red Sox have one of the more explosive lineups in the league right now with Rafael Devers knocking everyone in and Masataka Yoshida quickly becoming a Rookie of the Year favorite. A messy starting rotation is what will hold them back most. There is time to correct it. Will the bats slow down by the time they do something?
9) MLB Power Rankings: Toronto Blue Jays
It was a dramatic week for the Toronto Blue Jays. Worse than the drama was all of the losses they took against division rivals. They remain a dream team for your fantasy baseball draft. The big problem is how poorly Jose Berrios has pitched yet again this season and whatever Alek Manoah caught from him. The Blue Jays are capable of winning thanks to their offense, but they will need pitching when it matters most in the postseason. Still one of the best in baseball, your concerns are warranted.
8) MLB Power Rankings: Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins need to play as if the Detroit Tigers have a realistic shot to catch them. Easily the worst division in baseball, the Twins are a team with an underwhelming offense and top-level starting pitching. Sonny Gray and Bailey Ober each have ERAs under 2.00 with a combined 7-0 record. Joe Ryan has been almost as good with a 6-1 record and 2.25 ERA. The Twins aren't perfect but it may be for the best. Staying humble will win them the division.
7) MLB Power Rankings: New York Yankees
Aaron Hicks wasn't holding the New York Yankees back but with him no longer on the roster the pressure will go on others to continue their winning ways. There are two ways to look at the Yankees. They've done exactly as expected with their biggest problem being how well other teams in the division are performing. We know the Yankees will survive and at least challenge for a playoff spot all year. The frustration fans may be feeling comes from the fact that despite a good effort they're only third in the division.
6) MLB Power Rankings: Houston Astros
Uh oh. The Houston Astros are alive and well. The return of Jose Altuve may soon spark them further. In the meantime, a weekend series against the Oakland Athletics and another one next week should suffice and help them pile up more victories. This isn't the same utterly dominant Astros team we have seen in the past. What makes them scary is how players such as Hunter Brown and Brandon Bielak have been able to step up and perform at a high level. The Astros are a factory of new talent and it's helping them win games right now.
5) MLB Power Rankings: Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers maintain their lead in the American League West. This could change by next week with how well the Houston Astros are playing. Good pitching. Good hitting. They've hit both marks. The return of Corey Seager from the IL will only make them better. If you don't have a dog in the American League West race, this is the club to root for.
4) MLB Power Rankings: Los Angeles Dodgers
Whoever it was that nudged the Los Angeles Dodgers awake needs to be punished. Their slow start is a distant memory. This is a mostly balanced lineup with a mix of guys who hit for power or average and then a handful of guys doing both. Health of the starting rotation is the biggest question mark right now but they will no doubt find a solution. That's the Dodger way.
3) MLB Power Rankings: Atlanta Braves
Despite falling on some hard times and not really having a bullpen they can count on, the Atlanta Braves remain one of the strongest teams in baseball. We can thank their starting pitching for this. The ones who are actually healthy right now are helping to keep them afloat. The dichotomy in the lineup between how some players have performed is interesting to see unfold. While players like Michael Harris and Marcell Ozuna limp through the year, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Sean Murphy are putting up MVP numbers. The Braves will be okay as long as they repeat the process that helped them win the 2021 World Series.
2) MLB Power Rankings: Baltimore Orioles
Let's give the Baltimore Orioles some serious credit. Even if they don't have the same star power as some of the other ball clubs near the top, a series victory against the Toronto Blue Jays this weekend was enough to catapult them up to the No. 2 spot in the MLB Power Rankings. Winning games against their American League East foes will go a long way toward ending their ongoing playoff drought.
1) MLB Power Rankings: Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays remain number one in the MLB Power Rankings but the distance between them and several teams in the top ten is much smaller. The New York Mets woke up against them earlier in the week. No one in the American League East is backing down from the fight they started. They score runs. They consistently don't allow many. Continually proving they may be a team of destiny, the Rays remain the team to beat.